The U.S. government has revoked Harvard University’s right to enroll international students. Existing foreign students must transfer to other schools or lose their legal status. The Department of Homeland Security announced the new measure this Thursday.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered the termination of Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). The DHS stated that the decision followed Harvard’s refusal to provide information about some foreign students on visas.
On its part, Harvard condemned the action, calling it illegal and retaliatory.
“The government’s action is unlawful. We are committed to keeping Harvard open to international students and scholars from over 140 countries. They enrich both the university and the nation,” Harvard said in a statement.
The administration claims Harvard fosters violence, antisemitism, and has ties to the Chinese Communist Party. “Universities do not have the right to enroll foreign students. It is a privilege,” Noem said. “They should not use higher tuition payments to grow their multibillion-dollar endowments.”
This marks an escalation in Trump’s conflict with Harvard. The president has vowed to change private colleges across the country, arguing they promote anti-American, Marxist, and leftist ideologies. He has also criticized Harvard for hiring prominent Democrats in leadership roles.
Serious Consequences for Students from Sub-Saharan Africa
The United States is a top destination for young scholars across Africa, especially those from sub-Saharan Africa. As expected, the first University on the wish list for every international student looking to pursue a degree in the United States is Harvard. In the 2023/2024 academic session, 56,780 students from sub-Saharan Africa were enrolled in higher education institutions in the United States, with about 30-40% of the number making it to Harvard. The recent decision taken by Trump’s Administration will have tremendous impacts on countries like Nigeria, which is the top sending country from Africa to the United States, with 20,029 students enrolled within that period of 2023/2024. Statistics that represent a 13.5% increase from the previous academic session.
